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The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale
The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale is here in full — 427 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale
Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
THE ENEMY IN THE HOUSE.
It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a datethe date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.
But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.
It was late in March at least, or early in April, 1764.
I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale

Chapter IX · Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale is here in full — 427 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
THE ENEMY IN THE HOUSE.
Line 2
It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a datethe date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.
Line 3
But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.
Line 4
It was late in March at least, or early in April, 1764.
Line 5
I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.

All words in this reading · 74

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1764

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was late in March at least, or early in April, 1764.

7

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

a

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

all

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

an

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

and

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

April

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was late in March at least, or early in April, 1764.

at

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

be

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

befall

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.

besides

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

But

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

changed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

date

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

day

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

desperate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

early

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was late in March at least, or early in April, 1764.

ENEMY

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE ENEMY IN THE HOUSE.

evil

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.

fashion

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

find

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

for

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

foreign

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

habitudes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

had

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.

heavily

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.

HOUSE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE ENEMY IN THE HOUSE.

I

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

ill

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

IN

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE ENEMY IN THE HOUSE.

incident

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

indicated

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

into

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

is

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

It

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

journals

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

lands

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

late

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was late in March at least, or early in April, 1764.

least

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was late in March at least, or early in April, 1764.

life

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

March

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It was late in March at least, or early in April, 1764.

my

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

nature

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

near

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

not

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

of

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

or

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

out

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

premonition

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.

redd-up

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

sent

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

should

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

slept

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.

some

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.

sometimes

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

stick

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

strange

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

stricken

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

that

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

THE

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading THE ENEMY IN THE HOUSE.

thing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

to

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.

together

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

truth

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

two

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

us

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

very

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading It is a strange thing that I should be at a stick for a date—the date, besides, of an incident that changed the very nature of my life, and sent us all into foreign lands.

wakened

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.

was

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

week

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

whole

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading But the truth is, I was stricken out of all my habitudes, and find my journals very ill redd-up, [7] the day not indicated sometimes for a week or two together, and the whole fashion of the thing like that of a man near desperate.

with

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had slept heavily, and wakened with a premonition of some evil to befall.

Chapter 9 of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale by Robert Louis Stevenson holds 427 sentences, grouped into 86 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 9 of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale contain?

Chapter 9 holds 427 sentences of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 9 of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale by Robert Louis Stevenson exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 427 sentences, grouped into 86 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 9 of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale?

Work through the 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 86 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 9 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 9 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale

Common questions about reading The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale by Robert Louis Stevenson on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale?

Yes. All 4007 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #864 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #864, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale take to read?

About 333 minutes of reading across 802 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale section by section

How to work through The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 13 chapters of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale

Words and structures a reader meets early in The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Percy
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Florence
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Shelley
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Extends
A word that appears in the opening chapter of The Master of Ballantrae: A Winter's Tale; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.